I have been swooning over all of the simple yet gorgoues rope baskets. I knew I had to figure out an easy way to make one. I went to my local fabric warehouse and found the perfect “rope” – natural cotton piping. I spent $6 on cording for this good sized basket. This piping is used for making cording for sofas and pillows! Traditional rope baskets are made using a sewing machine, but I opted for the easy method – hot glue gun. Using glue will not make the basket as secure and heavy duty as a rope basket that has been sewn. Our basket makes a prefect place to hold your knitting projects or stuffed animals for blankets. I dressed up the basket by adding leather handles.

*For a more study basket, you can use rope from the hardware store. Yardage depending on size of basket.

Steps:

1. I used a galvanized metal bucket to model my basket for shape and size. Start by wrapping the cord (keep tape on end of cord) and applying hot glue in between every inch of cording.

2. Wrap and glue. Wrap and glue.

3. Place the flat bottom portion of glued cording on the bottom of bucket. At this point, start glueing the cording together on the top of cord to build the basket shape.

4. Continue wrapping and glueing.

5. Once you have glued enough cording to the desired basket size, remove the cord basket from bucket.

6. To end the basket, use clear tape to wrap around end of cord. Glue gun to basket. My basket is 8.5 inches tall and 11 inches wide handle to handle. Check your glueing skills and double check that there are not any spots missing glue!

Hi Becky –
I spent $6 on the piping. That was my only cost because I used scrap leather straps and tools from a friend. But, you could use an old leather belt (free or cheaply thrifted) for straps. Leather hole punch is $6, rivets $5, glue gun $5. So, a little over $20. You could also make the basket for $6 plus glue and not add straps for a really cheap and chic basket!
– Sara

Hi Sharon –
You are right… since it is not sewn and just glued it can hold lighter weight items. In the post I shared that I use it for yarn, knitting supplies and also great for stuffed animals!
Thanks, Sara

You could reinforce by using a sewing machine instead of glue. But I would think that if you wanted to use the glue and reinforce- you could use a heavy duty thread or embroidery floss and stitch from bottom to top on the four sides. Now, I have not done that myself but would think it could help.
– Sara

I know this idea I’m going to present would kind of defeat the purpose of only being a rope tote, but if you wanted a reinforced outwardely-rope-tote you can glue the rope directly to a current bin (like the one she used as her model). You can leave it like this with the galvanized steel showing inside or you can continue gluing the rope inside the bucket and then it looks like an all-time bucket, but has the reinforcement of a regular bucket/tote. 🙂

You could also glue the rope to a box (square) or to like a round wastepaper bin (like one for a bathroom?) But again as Megan mentioned this negates the wonder of creating this with just rope. In this case it wouldn’t be wrap and glue, wrap and glue, but wrap and glue together and glue to the box, so wrap, glue, glue; wrap, glue, glue….

This is beautiful! I might try this but glue the rope to the metal bucket instead and use the bucket handles for lifting. Similar look but leave the metal exposed on the inside. it could be a pretty planter this way too. 🙂 Great job and thanks for the inspiration!

I think I just just found a new favorite diy project to try! Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial on this! I cannot wait to get some supplies and make these for my home! Simply beautiful and genius!
Have a wonderful weekend
Jess
LiveRandomlySimple

You could stiTch with embroidery thread down the four sides.
A crisscross pattern in coloured threads would strengthen the baSket and be a beautiful finish.
Weave the thread inbetween the rope about a half inch apart top to bottom and then back up the opposite to the down stitch.
Thank you For this idea of the basket, it will add a great added touch to my sewing room for my scraps on my table.
Cheers to your ideas,
Holly

Love this project, quick amd simple.
Qusetion, does the hot glue really and truly hold it together?
Did you reinforce it by sewing along where you glued it? You used heavy duty glue sticks, right??
Either way, i’ll have to try this…
Sorry for all the words in caps..it just came out that way, i’m not shouting.

Hi Monique – the hot glue does hold it. But please note as I said in the post, just using glue does not make this basket a utility basket. I use it more for decorative storage. I keep lots of yarn, etc in mine. If you want to make it more sturdy I would recommend sewing up 4 sides of the basket. Thanks!

i LOVE THIS!!!! i’m thinking i will make a liner and hide the reinforcement (plastic or cardboard) behind the liner. you could also use a heavy duty stabilizer on the fabric liner. would make for a much sturdier basket, don’t you think? thank you for sharing.

I’m so inspired to make a basket that I’m going to buy the necessary materials tomorrow. Do you think the cording could be dyed or painted (fabric paint medium)? I’m going to start with a small basket for myself and try dying the cording with Rit. Then I’m going to make another variation by covering the cording with a sleeve of fabric. I see a Christmas gift in the making.